County Longford Road Safety Plan

MISSION STATEMENT “Longford Road Safety Working Together Committee with the co-operation of the public endeavours to achieve our aim to promote road safety for all road users and help reduce road user fatalities and injuries”

County Longford

Road Safety Plan

2015 – 2020

Table of Contents page

Table of contents ...... 2

Foreword – County Manager / Mission Statement...... 3

Introduction...... 4

Profile ...... 5 - 6

Road Safety ...... 7 - 10

Longford County Council (LCC)...... 11 - 15

An Garda Síochána (AGS)...... 16 - 17

Road Safety Authority (RSA) ...... 18 - 19

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)...... 20

Longford County Childcare Committee (LCCC) ...... 21

Health Service Executive (HSE)...... 22

Action Plans...... 23 - 24

Summary of Abbreviations for Organisations...... 25

2 MISSION STATEMENT “Longford Road Safety Working Together Committee with the co-operation of the public endeavours to achieve our aim to promote road safety for all road users and help reduce road user fatalities and injuries”

Foreword

Thousands of vehicles travel our roads on a daily basis, and road safety remains high on our agenda.

In the period from 2007 to 2013, 1,605 lives were lost on Ireland’s roads, of which 22 of these deaths occurred in County Longford. This toll does not reflect the countless numbers of those left behind or bereaved, nor do these figures suggest to us the hurt and pain, suffered by the families and friends of those that have died or been injured.

Significant changes in infrastructure and enforcement have made our roads a safer place to travel. However, the combined efforts and continued commitment of the Local Authority, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and the Transport Infrastructure Ireland are still necessary to improve this performance in the future.

We present this plan as a co-ordinated plan for the county by all of the agencies represented on the Working Group and we are confident that with the co-operation of the public we can achieve our aim.

I am pleased to present Longford County Council’s Road Safety Plan 2015-2020.

______Tim Caffrey Chief Executive

MISSION STATEMENT

“Longford Road Safety Working Together Committee with the co-operation of the public endeavours to achieve our aim to promote road safety for all road users and help reduce road user fatalities and injuries”

Longford County Council is the Local Authority in County Longford.

Longford Road Safety Working Together Committee consists of representation from the following agencies:-

 Longford County Council  Transport Infrastructure Ireland  Road Safety Authority  An Garda Síochána  Health Service Executive  Fire Service  County Childcare Committee  Sports Partnership  Elected Representative

This plan is designed to ensure a co-ordinated, collaborative and consistent approach to improving road safety for all road users. This five year plan will centre on the four E’s of Road Safety: Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation. The committed support of these key services is necessary for the success of this crucial plan.

Education Raising Awareness of road safety by imparting knowledge and developing an understanding of the risks with a view to changing attitudes and behaviour at individual, community and organisation levels.

Engineering Making the road network safer and more forgiving of inevitable errors by road users.

Enforcement Visible and appropriate enforcement acting as a deterrent and increasing compliance with road traffic laws.

Evaluation Ensuring sustainable reduction in road deaths and serious injury by constant research into the efficacy of actions undertaken.

PROFILE OF COUNTY LONGFORD

Population Profile The Census 2011 report shows that the population of County Longford was 39,000. Made up of 19,351 females and 19,649 males.

Road Network The Classification and lengths of the roads are as follows:-

Classification Granard Longford Ballymahon Total Km Municipal Municipal Municipal District District District National 18.96 36.58 43.07 98.61 Regional 68.11 13.88 70.56 152.55 Local 709.11 151.09 504.49 1364.69 Total 796.18 201.55 618.12 1615.85

National Road Collision Facts 2007 - 2012

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total Fatalities 279 238 212 186 162 1,415 Injuries 9,758 9,742 8,270 7,235 7,942 50,753

Longford Road Collision Facts 2007- 2012

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total Fatalities 3 2 2 2 5 14 Injuries 117 85 106 67 100 475

Number of Driving licences There was a total of 2,474,786 Driving Licences in Ireland on 31st December 2014 of which 21,445 were issued in County Longford.

Driving Test Pass Rate for Longford

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 50.40% 59.91% 59.29% 62.95% 58.54%

Number of Vehicles taxed in Longford in 2014

19,425 is the total number of cars taxed in 2014 26,633 is the total number of vehicles taxed in 2014

NCT Results for 2014

2014 Pass Fail Refusal Fail Dangerous Total Full Tests 650,215 (48.4%) 689,253 (51.2%) 4,800 (.4%) 1,344,265 Re-Tests 620,469 (90.9%) 61,072 (9%) 824 (.1%) 682,365

Cost of Road Collisions

Cost of a fatal collision €2,706,144.00 Cost of a serious injury collision €361,531.00 Cost of a minor injury collision €35,607.00 Cost of a Material damage collision €2,849.00 - Collision Statistics RSA

Road Safety – What is it?

Local Context

The ‘Road Safety Plan’ for county Longford is a five year plan and is designed to ensure a co-ordinated, collaborative and consistent approach to improving road safety for all road users. Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation all play a crucial role in terms of road safety.

The aims of the Longford Road Safety Plan in the coming years are as follows:

 Develop objectives for the reduction and prevention of road collisions  Develop strategies to achieve these objectives  Involve other agencies in the process  Develop a monitoring system for implementation  Agree actions to be progressed over the lifetime of the plan  Ensure that each of the Electoral areas in Longford benefit from the implementation of the Plan

National Context

The target for the national Road Safety Strategy 2013—2020 is to reduce road collision fatalities on Irish roads to 25 per million population or less by 2020. This is required to close the gap between Ireland and the countries with the best safety records.

This means reducing deaths from 162 in 2012 to 124 or fewer by 2020.

A provisional target for the reduction of serious injuries by at least 30% from 472 (2011) to 330 by 2020 or 61 per million population has also been set.

The RSA has identified a number of key behaviours to be changed by the actions of this Strategy including inappropriate speeding, impaired driving through alcohol, drugs or fatigue, not using seat- belts and child restraints, unsafe behaviour towards/by vulnerable road users. Education and Evaluation are the key elements where most of the work will be done by the RSA.

Primary Causes of Road Collisions/Death/Injuries

 Inappropriate Speed for driving conditions  Impaired Driving – Alcohol/Drugs/Fatigue  Failure to use Seat Belts/Child Safety Restraints  Unsafe Behaviour towards/by vulnerable road users

High Risk Groups on Roads

 Male Drivers/Passengers aged 17 - 34  Pedestrians – Particularly Over 65 Years  The Young and the Elderly  Cyclists and Motorcyclists

In 2013, six children lost their lives.

 262 children were killed and 1115 were seriously injured on Irish roads between 1997 and 2012.

 Of the child passenger fatalities in this period, 1 in 3 was not wearing a seatbelt or a child restraint.

 Child fatalities decreased by 89% in the period 1997 to 2012 with a 42% reduction in serious injuries, a 72.7% reduction in pedestrian fatalities, a 100% reduction in cyclist fatalities and an 100% reduction in child passenger fatalities.

 44% of children who were killed in the period from 1997 to 2012 were pedestrians.

 42% of children who were killed or seriously injured between 1997 and 2012 were passengers in a car.

 59% of children killed in this period were male.

 Peak time for children to be killed on the road is between 4:00pm and 5:59pm, and during the summer months.

The Objectives of the Longford Road Safety Together Plan are to:

 Make the roads in County Longford safer for all road users

 Increase public awareness of road safety

 Promote a collective sense of responsibility towards road safety

 Enforce existing traffic legislation

 Improve co-operation between the agencies represented on the Longford Road Safety Working Together Group

 Support the principles of the National Road Safety Strategy 2013– 2020

This plan will focus on the four main elements of road safety: Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation. This will involve every type of road user throughout the community, including family members, educational providers, community members, employers, employees and road safety campaigners.

N5 Longford Bypass

Above: Check it Fits at Edgeworthstown, Longford Below: Roll Over and Shuttle at Mall Complex

ROLE OF EACH AGENCY

Longford County Council

Longford County Council is the primary unit of Local Government in County Longford. The elected Council consists of members who are directly elected to represent the people of the County. A range of essential services are provided by a number of Departments within the Council. The responsibilities of the Departments primarily involved in Road Safety are set out below:

 Continue forward planning on all national and non national routes

 Road design, maintenance and improvement works

Licensing of abnormal loads

 Traffic management, traffic calming and public parking

 Installation and maintenance of public lighting

 Low cost safety improvement schemes

 Minor realignment and junction improvement schemes

 Speed limit review and implementation

 Winter maintenance

Fire Service

 Responding to road collisions and other road based incidents  The safe removal of casualties from vehicles in conjunction with the HSE Ambulance Service for transfer to hospital by ambulance.

Junior School Warden

Motor Tax

 Taxation of vehicles

Planning & Development

 Review of planning applications for impact on road safety and traffic flows

Road Safety Officer

 To provide an innovative, effective and efficient Road Safety Service

 To be responsible for the operation of road safety education, publicity & promotion of the Road Safety Plan

 To organise cyclist training

 To liaise with teaching staff in schools and School principals

 To provide an advisory support service for teachers, play groups, nurseries, youth clubs and other appropriate organisations

 To Promote Junior School Warden Schemes

 To Promote Bike Week

Presentation of Awards to Junior Wardens

LOCAL SPORTS PARTNERSHIP (LSP)

 Longford Local Sports Partnership (LSP) is supported and funded by Sport Ireland, to coordinate, plan, promote and deliver sport and physical activity opportunities locally. The role of the LSP is to provide information and education and to implement a strategy for sport and physical activity in County Longford. The LSP is committed to working in Partnership with other agencies and as part of its activities, promotes Active Transport such as cycling and walking. The LSP supports and delivers programmes in schools and the community and endorses good practice and safety guidelines issued by the RSA, Department of Transport, Sport Ireland and other national bodies.

Bike Week

Bike to Work week – Longford County Council

An Garda Síochána (AGS)

To work in partnership with other agencies to successfully enforce our Road Policing Strategy is one of the functions of An Garda Síochána. A strategy has been developed to continue to reduce the number of road deaths and Serious Injuries on our roads arising from collisions and provide for safer roads in County Longford. The objectives and strategy are outlined as follows:

Objectives:

 Reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries

 Improve road safety

 Change attitudes of all road users  Increased compliance with speed limits, drink driving legislation and seatbelt wearing & use of mobile phones while driving

Strategy:

Engagement with Stakeholders: Coordinate the implementation of the Road Safety Strategy by engaging with the Road Safety Authority, Longford County Council and other relevant stakeholders. Regular Multi agency checkpoints conducted in the Longford Division with the RSA, Revenue Commissioners (Customs) and other partner agencies.

Education: Increased delivery of Road Safety Awareness presentations to schools, clubs and other organisations.

Enforcement: Continue to carry out targeted operations in relation to:

 Speeding, Drink Driving, Seat Belts.  Dangerous/reckless driving  Child safety  Youth racers  Safe HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicles)  Safe bike  Road traffic regulations  Mobile phone use while driving  Full Utilisation of detection equipment and enabling technology.  Deployment of Safety cameras at collision prone zones  Continued use of MAT (Mandatory Alcohol Testing) Checkpoints  Mount operations aimed at young drivers

Outcome: An Garda Síochána check points

Safety Cameras Garda mobile safety cameras are in use across Irish roads since 2010. As of January 2016, there are 727 active zones. These cameras are positioned where fatal or injury collisions have occurred as a result of inappropriate speed.

Locations where Garda safety cameras are positioned on roads in Co Longford can be found on the Garda website: www.garda.ie

Road Safety Authority (RSA)

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is a statutory organisation created by the Road Safety Authority Act 2006. It was established in September 2006 and its functions were transferred from the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport (DTTAS), the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the National Safety Council (NSC).

Aims

The aims of the Road Safety Authority is to save lives and prevent injuries by reducing the number and severity of collisions on the road. Working to Save Lives is the stated goal adopted by the Board of the RSA.

Key functions

The RSA works to improve road safety in Ireland by:  Developing and implementing information and education campaigns to increase awareness of road safety and promote safer driving  Improving vehicle standards  Establishing and monitoring a standard for driver instruction  Delivering the driving licence and learner permit service - National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS)  Working with stakeholders to ensure a co-ordinated strategic response and ensure our collective resources are used wisely and efficiently  Undertaking collision and road safety research in order to develop measures and recommendations to improve road safety  Advising the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on road safety policy  Overseeing the implementation of the Government Road Safety Strategy 2013 – 2020.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

The National Roads Authority (NRA) was established in 1994 under the 1993 Roads Act. In 2015, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) merged both the NRA and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA). The function of the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is to develop and maintain a safe and efficient national road network. In County Longford, the national road network accounts for 98.61km of a total public road network of 1615.85km within the county. The national primary and secondary roads within Co. Longford are as follows:-

N4 From the border with Co. Westmeath at Clonwhelan to the border with Co. Leitrim at Roosky. N5 From Longford Town to the Co. Roscommon border at Termonbarry. N55 From the border with Co. Cavan at Cloghchurnel to the border with Co. Westmeath at Tang. N63 From Longford Town to the Co. Roscommon border at Lanesborough.

Since its inception the NRA/TII has committed itself to road safety in every practical manner possible. Road Safety Authority collision data is used to identify trends in collisions and to develop an intelligence-led approach to road safety improvement works. The database is also available for research purposes to all interested parties and has been used by a number of agencies, colleges and institutions to identify collision causes and counter strategies. While official responsibility for the collation of Garda collision data rests with the RSA since 2006, the TII will continue to disseminate the existing data and conduct research based on existing and future data.

TII carry out an annual collision cluster (HD 15) analysis on the national road network and any collision clusters identified on national roads in Longford are relayed to the road section in Longford County Council. TII also arrange for periodic Road Safety Inspections to be carried out on national roads, and issues raised in these inspections are also relayed to the road section in Longford County Council for the development of suitable medium measures. TII also have a Regional Road Safety Engineer for the North West region who liaises with Longford County Council, and the other counties in the region, regarding issues of road safety national roads in the County.

LONGFORD COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE

Longford County Childcare Committee (LCCC) was established in 2001 as the first point of contact for the public regarding early childhood care and education, acting as a local agent for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The overall aims of Longford County Childcare Committee are to:  Improve the Quality of early childhood care and education  Support a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of early childhood care and education  Support families to break the cycle of poverty  Maintain and increase early childhood care and education facilities and places

As part of our quality initiative Longford County Childcare Committee is committed to working in partnership with other agencies to promote road safety in County Longford. Early education is a vital component to raising awareness and learning appropriate skills to ensure safety on our roads. Longford County Childcare Committee engages with preschool and afterschool services to promote a campaign of awareness on road safety issues for children through:

 Promoting Check it Fits service/events  Promoting ‘Beep Beep’ Day for early childhood care and education services  Promoting road safety resources within early childhood care and education services  Raising awareness of good practice and safety guidelines  Supporting the RSA’s Nationwide Road Safety Education Service

Tír Na Nóg Creche 21

Health Service Executive (HSE)

The Health Service Executive (HSE) was established in January 2005. As outlined in the Health Act 2004 the objective of the Executive is ‘to use the resources available to it in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public’

The HSE operates within the Healthy Ireland framework. Healthy Ireland is the national framework, taking a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach, for action to improve the health and wellbeing and the quality of people’s lives.

As a member of “Longford Road Safety Working Together Group” the HSE will work with the other group members and with the general public to help reduce and prevent road user injuries and fatalities. This will be done through the development and execution of road safety awareness and provision information to the general public, with particular emphasis on specific target audiences.

Our aim is to help increase awareness and understanding of road safety and encourage and empower road users to improve their behaviour and attitudes where road safety is concerned.

Action Plans

The Road Safety Plan seeks to promote an integrated approach to road safety through four distinct disciplines; namely, Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation. The following action plans have been structured in accordance with the identified disciplines and a lead organisation has been assigned to each specific action.

EDUCATION LEAD TARGET TIME FRAME ORGANISATION(S) GROUP Junior School Warden LCC National Schools Review Yearly Scheme Transition Year RSA Secondary Schools Review Yearly Programme Be Safe/Safe to School LCC National Schools Review Yearly Distribution of HI Garda/HSE/LCC General Public Yearly Visibility Vests Promote Road Safety Garda/Hse Elderly and People Review Yearly with Special Needs Beep Beep Day LCCC Early Childhood Review Yearly Care and Education Services Road Show LCC/HSE/Garda/LCCC/RSA Secondary Schools Review Yearly Promote Road Safety at all RSA/LCC/HSE National Schools Review Yearly levels in National Schools Check it Fits RSA/LCCC/LCC General Review Yearly Public/Early Childhood Care Develop & Update LCC General Public Review half Council’s Website on yearly Road Safety Issues Cycle Safety Initiative LCC National Schools Review Yearly Pilot Cycle safe Initiative LCC/LSP TY – Secondary Review Yearly Schools Walking Bus LSP/LCC School children Review Yearly and adults in the community Develop and support LSP/LCC All Review Yearly programmes that offer cycling and walking as an alternative means of transport (e.g. Bikeweek) Encourage safe practice LSP All Review Yearly when using active transport (e.g. use of helmets during Longford Cycling Tour

ENGINEERING LEAD ORGANISATION(S) TIME FRAME Continue with Road Maintenance LCC Yearly Works Implement a Winter Maintenance LCC Yearly Plan Agree Countywide Low Cost Safety LCC Yearly Improvement Schemes Carry out Bridge Inspections LCC Yearly Resurfacing of the Road Network LCC Yearly Traffic Calming Schemes TII Yearly Secure Funding to carry out Minor LCC Yearly Realignments & Junction Improvements on Regional & Local Roads Erection of Safety Barriers LCC Yearly Parking Initiatives LCC Yearly Public Lighting Programme LCC Yearly National Road Lining LCC/TII Yearly Regulation of Road Opening Licences LCC Weekly Examine planning applications to LCC Weekly assess the effect on road safety and traffic flows Licensing of movement of Abnormal LCC Weekly Loads on Public Roads Emergency Responses LCC Daily Correlation of Road Collision TII Monthly Statistics Re-establish Collision Prevention Garda/LCC Quarterly Programme

ENFORCEMENT LEAD ORGANISATION TIME FRAME Prohibition of Vehicle for Sale on Public LCC Weekly Roads Detection of Road Traffic Offences GS Weekly

EVALUATION LEAD ORGANISATION TIME FRAME Review Road Safety Plan All Yearly Identify areas where little activity is All Review Quarterly taking place i.e. where scheduled actions have not been initiated and provide feedback to LRSTC at end of each year Hold Regular Committee Meetings for All Quarterly Inter-Agency Updates

Summary of Abbreviations for Organisations

AGS = An Garda Síochána HSE = Health Service Executive (including the Ambulance Service) TII = Transport Infrastructure Ireland LCC = Longford County Council (including the Fire Service) RSA = Road Safety Authority LRSTC = Longford Road Safety Together Committee DTTAS = Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport LCCC = Longford County Childcare Committee

MEMBERS OF THE LONGFORD ROAD SAFETY WORKING TOGETHER COMMITTEE

Ms Eimear Carron

Ms Brenda Shannon Mr Damien Mc Cormack

Ms Aisling Leonard - Inspector Padraic Jones - Sergeant Mary Brennan

- Ms Ann Marie Mc Keon Road Safety Officer - Mr Con Diffley, Senior Executive Engineer - Councillor Mark Casey - Mr Tomás Ó Maonaigh - Ms Siobhan Mc Guinness Sports Co-ordinator -

(Longford County Council)